GHOUTA: Rebels in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta “refuse to leave” and have reiterated they will defend the area, saying a Russian-proposed withdrawal was not a serious offer, a spokesperson of one of the rebel groups in the enclave told Al Jazeera.
Wael Olwan, of the Failaq al-Rahman (the Rahman Legion), a major armed group linked to the Free Syrian Army in Eastern Ghouta, said on Wednesday that Moscow insists on using military escalation as a means to cause “mass displacement”.
“Russia’s persistence at causing mass displacement is a crime that cannot be ignored,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Reuters News Agency reported that a military spokesperson for an unnamed rebel group said that they will not accept a negotiation brought forward by Russia.
“There are no negotiations about this subject,” Hamza Birqdar told Reuters in a text message, referring to Russia’s offer to provide rebels and their families safe passage out of besieged Eastern Ghouta.
“The factions of Ghouta and their fighters and its people are holding onto their land and will defend it,” Birqdar added.
